COPPA Enforcement: Protecting Children Online Privacy
The Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act prohibits collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. The FTC has cited major platforms including YouTube, TikTok, and Epic Games for violations resulting in record settlements. The proposed COPPA 2.0 would extend protections to teens. Enforcement gaps allow continued violations particularly in education technology and social media.
Major Enforcement Actions
Google paid $170 million in 2019 for YouTube violations including collecting data from children using channels directed at children. TikTok paid $5.7 million in 2019. Epic Games paid $520 million in 2022 for Fortnite violations including default voice and text chat for children. These settlements represent the largest COPPA enforcement actions but may underestimate violation prevalence.
Current Gaps
EdTech tools used in schools often violate COPPA through inadequate parental consent procedures. Social media age verification is essentially honor system. Mobile apps frequently fail to comply with COPPA notice and consent requirements. Data brokers selling children information face limited enforcement. The patchwork enforcement leaves significant violations unaddressed.
COPPA 2.0 Proposal
The COPPA 2.0 amendment would extend protections to children under 17 (currently 13), prohibit targeted advertising to minors, create an eraser button for content posted as a minor, and strengthen FTC enforcement authority. The bill has bipartisan support but has not passed Congress. State-level laws including New York SAFE for Kids Act provide some additional protections.
Key Findings
- Google paid $170 million in 2019 for YouTube COPPA violations involving child-directed channels
- Epic Games paid $520 million for Fortnite COPPA violations including default voice chat
- COPPA 2.0 would extend protections to children under 17 but has not passed Congress
Timeline
COPPA enacted
YouTube $170 million COPPA settlement
Epic Games $520 million Fortnite settlement